Magic Cookie Bars

So yummy and so easy.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I used two graham cracker pie crusts because that's what I had. lol.  )
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 cups  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut (I used 3/4 cup sweetened coconut and 3/4 unsweetened)
• 1 cup chopped nuts  (I used walnuts)

Instructions

• HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. 
• I melt butter in sauce pan on stove top, add cracker crumbs, and mix. This makes the crust firmer IMO.
• COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl (or as I do above). Press into bottom of prepared pan. Open sweetened milk can using a can opener. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with fork.
• BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. Cut into bars or diamonds.

Sockeye Salmon Grilled, coleslaw, corn-on-the cob, garlic toast points

We have been on a fresh fish roll.  When buying fish from the local supermarket, I only buy 'product of United States' after watching the tilapia episode of Dirty Jobs [start at 1:40].  Yikes!  So today I bought Sockeye Salmon.  The fish monger claimed Sockeye, being wild caught had a fishier flavor but if the Atlantic Salmon (the other salmon they carry) was milder than Sockeye, then it might not have much flavor. lol.

At HEB, you can buy Sockeye Salmon, wild caught, produce of the USA, by the pound or in 5 oz center cut fillets.  This time I bought two of the 5 oz fillets ($4 each) and had hubby grill them.  In prep for grilling, he rubs the fillets with olive oil, heats the grill (really hot), spray lots of non-stick spray (lots, I said), then put the salmon on skin side up. Cook it that way for two minutes, flip it, cook it for five more minutes, then slide it off the grill (without the skin) onto your waiting plate and eat it!   

I made another batch of Creamy Coleslaw, fresh corn-on-the cob and garlic toast points to complete the meal.

For the corn-on-the-cob, I dehusked it, removed the hairs, washed it, wrapped it in one paper towel and wet the paper towel.  I cooked two cobs in the microwave at the same time starting with a 5 minute cooking, then rotate, then cook for 3 minutes more.  Just before the salmon is ready, rotate and cook 1 minute more to ensure hot before serving.

For garlic toast, I used thin sliced HEB bakery bread with a crusty shell, soft center.  Spread margarine and sprinkle with garlic powder.  I placed in our toaster oven (can use regular oven) on broil till crisp and browning.  You can add cheese to have cheesy garlic bread.

Delicious.  Enjoy!

Red Snapper Blackened

My dad went fishing out of Port Isabel, TX and caught red snapper.  They didn't care for red snapper so we scored!  Having never cooked red snapper at home, I had to find a recipe and decided on The Chew's Mario Batali's recipe [http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/blackened-red-snapper-mario-batali] which we adored.  Yum.  Perhaps a little less cayenne pepper if we had to critique it.  And I should have only made half a recipe.  WAY too much for 2 people.

Blackened Red Snapper

• 4 fillets Red Snapper Fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Lemon (halved)

Cajun Seasoning Mix:

• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper  - - - I'd use half next time
• 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt

directions

• In a medium bowl add the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, black pepper, thyme, oregano and mix to combine.
• Coat fillets generously with seasoning mix.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, and add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil. Once butter has foamed, add snapper fillets (as many as fit comfortably,) skin side down, and cook until nearly opaque, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook another minute, then transfer to a platter.
• Wipe skillet clean and repeat with remaining fish.
• Squeeze lemon over the fish to serve 

I served with butter angel hair pasta (forgot to put the parmasean cheese in it but was delicious without it) and steamed broccoli.  Delicious dinner with lots of leftovers. 

Cinnamon Apples

Easy peasy cinnamon apples.

Wash about 3 or 4 apples.
Cut into slices. I leave the peels on.
Place in microwaveable bowl.
Add about 2 tablespoons of cinnamon red hot candies.
Microwave for 3 minutes.
Stir.
Microwave in 1 minute increments, stirring, until candies are melted & apples are tender.
Refrigerate.
Best served cold to add some zip and flavor to a meal.

My Mom and I have been making this recipe for years.  No fat.  Low calorie.  And delicious!

This is my version of http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cinnamon-apples recipe.

Holy Guacamole

We needed some zip to yesterday's grilled burgers so I whipped up some yummy homemade guacamole.   This is a good recipe http://allrecipes.com/recipe/14064/easy-guacamole/ if you want to really make your guac from scratch. 

We almost prefer

mash up about 1 teaspoon minced garlic in bowl.
mash up one avacado with a fork in same bowl.
Add about 1/2 cup salsa.

Eat with tortilla chips or on top of grilled hamburgers.

Prepping for Tomorrow's Menu: Breakfast Pie

Saw this in the newspaper this week:  country star Scotty McCreery enjoy's his mama Judy’s famous breakfast pie

• Ingredients:
  6 eggs
  1 cup half & half (Or heavy cream) [or whole milk - it's what we have in the fridge]
  2 tablespoons chopped onions (optional) [omit]
  1 tablespoon chopped pimento for color (optional)  [omit]
  Coconut oil (solid) to grease pan [or spray Pam]
  Salt & pepper to taste
  6 slices thick toast (like Texas Toast) not yet toasted [using HEB bakery thin sliced bread]
  1 pound hot pork sausage
  1 cup grated cheese (cheddar/mozzarella/swiss or combo of your favorite cheeses) [using mozzarella because we have it and it's lower fat]

• Instructions:
  1. In small bowl, whip eggs until they loosen up. Add half & half, onions and pimento — set aside.
  2. Prepare sausage, discard grease; season with salt and pepper — put aside.
  3. Grease 12 x 10 inch baking dish. Line the pan with the thick toast, then sprinkle the toast with the cooked sausage and cheese.
  4. Pour the egg mixture over the entire dish. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
  
• Tomorrow I will
  5. preheat oven to 350 degrees. We cook ours covered for 25-35 minutes. Check oven several times to make sure egg mixture appears firm. Cook last couple minutes uncovered.
  
  *For a low carb option, simply delete the thick toast. Layer pan with sausage, cheese, egg mixture. It’s just as delicious without the bread.

Today's Menu: Burgers & Slaw

*Grilled Hamburgers (90% lean from Sam's Club $2.89 per pound, makes 3 or 4 burgers)
*Whole wheat buns ($0.64 from Aldis for 8 buns)
*Creamy Coleslaw ($0.83 a head from Aldis - used about 1/4 head).
Prepare a couple hours in advance and refrigerate to mix flavors
   using the Better Homes & Garden cookbook recipe we received as a wedding gift:
     Ingredients

1/2 cup Mayo
1 T cider vinegar (my Mom uses milk here)
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp celery seed (optional)
2 cups shredded cabbage (can buy a bag of precut, use a food processor, or cut by hand)
1 cup shredded carrots (optional)

      Directions     Combine dressing items well then pour over cabbage and carrots. Stir to combine. Better as it sits. Refrigerate.  Makes about 6 1/2 cup servings.  Serving Size: 1/2 cup  Number of Servings: 6  Calories:  83

Long Trail Home (The Texas Trail Series) by Vickie McDonough book review

This is the third book in the Texas Trail series and I have enjoyed them all so far.  The characters are interesting and the author's backdrop is vividly conjured in my mind.  This is Christian, historical, western, romance fiction novel sure to please many.

Mini-Quilt #1 "Basic Blocks"

Mini-Quilt #1 "Basic Blocks"

Quilting - my latest attempt at a new hobby.   I've never used a sewing machine before but I'm loving quilting and learning a lot. There is a quilting group in my area that provides the instruction, fabric, sewing machines, thread, everything if you provide the labor to make mini-quilts for patients in the local hospital.  This is what I learned at my first time ....how to attach 5" blocks using a quarter inch seam.....

 

 We meet once a month.  Below is a photo of my progress after the second meeting.  I found a backing fabric and added batting to make a quilt sandwich now that I have the blocks all sewn together.  The next beginner step is to stitch-in-the-ditch starting in the middle.

 

Since I don't own a sewing machine, I had to wait till the next meeting time to finish off my mini-quilt and after 3 months of lessons, here it is - - ->

And now it's completed.  The group adds these labels to personalize the quilts a little.  I surely hope this quilt will brighten a hospital patient's room!

Twelve Days of Christmas: A Story And A Treat

Did you know that the Twelve Days of Christmas starts on December 13th?!

This year, I sent a package to a brother that lives far away. Each day, there is a Christmas story to read along with a coordinating treat. Below is the list of stories and a description of the treat that goes with it. 

Day 1, 3,4,5,7,8,10,11 (perishable)

Day 2, Day 9, Day 12 (non perishable)

Day 12

Day 1: A Christmas Family (red envelope filled with chocolate coins)
Day 2: Rudolph---That Amazing Reindeer (should be ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey' (reindeer); but they get – 'Pin the Nose on the Snowman' game)
Day 3: An Older Brother's Gift (Lifesavers candy book)
Day 4: The Other Wise Man (candy ring "jewels", Ring Pop Jewels)
Day 5: Christmas Day In The Morning (chocolate milk straws)
Day 6: In Shepherd's Field (should be pooping sheep – pooping penguin)
Day 7: The Christmas Orange (chocolate orange)
Day 8: A Christmas Gift For Jesus (Hot chocolate)
Day 9: Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect (Tree Ring Toss game)
Day 10: Christmas On The Rhine (gingerbread men)
Day 11: A Brother Like That (3 Hot wheel race cars)
Day 12: The Legend of the Candy Cane (A candy cane & 7 sets matching PJs & 7 blinking rudolph noses, Christmas Trivia game)

 

I searched all around town to find coordinating candies. I had the best luck at places like Dollar Tree, Walmart, Walgreens.

I wrapped each candy individually, printed out the story for that day, put it in an envelope and wrote on the envelope what day it is supposed to be opened.

 

 

 

 

 I also included this poem:

We thought this present would be good
to get you in the Christmas mood.
Each day there's a story,
they're all really neat.
Along with each story
comes a special treat.
Open each package one by one
We hope it brings lots of Christmas fun!

Click here to open, view and print the stories (13 stories available - pick 12 according to which you like and/or what treats you can find). I reformatted the stories and added clip art to jazz them up for the little kids.

 Merry Christmas!  The Youngs in Texas

Book Review: Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis

Book Review:  Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis

The Captive Trail is Book #2 of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896.  Although a series, each book can be read on its own.  And I enjoy all the books' historical aspects intertwined with the fictional Morgan family.  Davis is an excellent writer that makes you see the other side of the story as well as the (fictional) emotion involved.




The main character in this book is 20-year-old Taabe and she has been a Comanche captive for so long she has forgotten English, making it hard for her to explain her situation after she ran away from the Comanche and is searching for her white family.  Through many lessons by the nuns that found her and are caring for her, and the patience and understanding that stage coach/mail delivery driver Ned offers, Taabe learns of her true identity.

As Ned searches for Taabe's family the Comanche are hot on the trail, determined to bring Taabe back to the tribe making for a great read.

This review is my own.  Thanks to Moody Publishing for a complimentary copy to review.

Book Review: The In-Between by Jeff Goins

Book Review:  The In-Between by Jeff Goins
Embracing the Tension between Now and the Next Big Thing

I felt this book fell short.  I was expecting MORE:  HOW to embrace the every day ordinary of now until the Next Big Thing happens in our lives as the subtitle states.  The author Jeff Goins told his life stories very well indeed, and I really felt that I had a good glimpse into his life, but I could rarely relate to his life.  I understood the overall concept that Goins was rushing his life.  And missing some of the great parts In Between.  As we all do.  I too recommend that most all people need to slow down and stop grasping for the Next Big Thing.  As the saying goes:  Life's a Journey, enjoy the travel.  But I thought I would get a big ah-ha moment as to HOW to better Embrace the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing from Goins book and it just wasn't there for me.

This review is my opinion.  Thanks to Moody Publishing Reviewer's Program for the free copy of this book. 

2013 Vacation Day 2

Vacation 2013. Day 2. HORRIFIC storm early this morning. Started raining maybe about 3am but by 5am there were horizontally blowing winds, whirlwinds off the barn we were parked next to, and 3.5 inches of rain all at once. Needless to say, not much sleep was had! When we left, we heard the south route was impassable due to high water so we took the north route on Road 19 and it was underwater in two places. At hwy 166, there was construction and we had to wait for the pilot car. All this within one mile of departure!

In Chetopa, KS heading toward Baxter Springs we see ‘Road Closed’ signs off to the side of the hwy. We thought they were old, no longer valid and headed that way. Yep, bridge washed out. Turned around. Many bridges had water just under their overpass the waters were so high. Headed back to Chetopa, got fuel since we didn’t know how many more impassable areas we would encounter. Went around the washed out bridge. And it was the only one.

Got into Wright City, MO a lot later than expected, about 8:30pm. Uncle Kenneth was kind enough to drive over to see us. We visited with Mom, Dad & Ken then headed over to see Kayla, Danielle, brother Scott and Cindy. Kayla was having a “Final Farewell” party for about 20 of her high school friends before they head out to college in the next few weeks. Left about 11pm. We were all beat tired. And Ken had a hour drive home still!

Laura knit a ruffle scarf using Improv yarn during this day of driving.

2013 Vacation Day 1

Vacation 2013.  Day 1 of 36.  Depart Waco.  Can’t find GPS so turn around & go home to look for it.  Found it where it had fallen behind the driver’s seat.  Depart for second time.  In OKC saw road signs saying I-44 was closed west of Springfield, Mo (this was August 7th, 2013). It's 106 degrees out. Ugh hot. Arrive DH’s parent’s house in Sedan, KS about  8 pm-ish.  Chatted.  Had 3 layer sour cream chocolate cake with Cool Whip Frosting for DH’s “birthday cake”.  Yum.  Called Mom May to ask about I-44 closure and it was closed at exit 172 (Jerome, MO).  Stayed up till about midnight talking.  Laura finished knitting a Plymouth Yarn Chunky scarf during the long drive.

Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin

 

Texas Trails * Lone Star Trail ~ ~ ~ A Morgan Family Series
by Darlene Franklin

Oh my goodness - - >  Good!  Ms. Franklin can bring her characters, the land, the historical time to life for her readers.  Excellent writing.  The story is about a 26 year old rancher Jud Morgan in 1845 in Victoria, Texas whom was prejudice against all the immigrants flooding to Texas since he had lost his father during the fight for Texas independence.  At this time, the Germans specifically were migrating to New Braunfels, Texas via Victoria.   Like the Fleischer family.  The Fleischers lost a child after the sea voyage, lost their wagon to the Texas clay mud, lost another child to the cholera epidemic, lost their ranch and barns they had worked so hard to obtain to arson, their oldest daughter lost her fiancé to another woman he met on the sea voyage and yet, through all these hardships, their faith in God prevailed and provided for them.  They worked hard and grew to be an integral part of the Texas-born  and German population in Victoria.  The story is one of perseverance that deserves your time to read.